Rutgers Study: Nuclear Winter Would Threaten Nearly Everyone on Earth

By TAPINTO NEW BRUNSWICK STAFF

August 29, 2019 at 7:00 AM

Content Options

If the U.S. and Russia waged an all-out nuclear war, much of the land in the Northern Hemisphere would be below freezing in the summer, with the growing season slashed by nearly 90% in some areas. If the U.S. and Russia waged an all-out nuclear war, much of the land in the Northern Hemisphere ...Credits: Rutgers University

By TAPINTO NEW BRUNSWICK STAFF

August 29, 2019 at 7:00 AM

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - If the United States and Russia waged an all-out nuclear war, much of the land in the Northern Hemisphere would be below freezing in the summertime, with the growing season slashed by nearly 90% in some areas, according to a Rutgers-led study.

Lead author Joshua Coupe, a Rutgers doctoral student, and other scientists used a modern climate model to simulate the climatic effects of an all-out nuclear war between the United States and Russia. Such a war could send 150 million tons of black smoke from fires in cities and industrial areas into the lower and upper atmosphere, where it could linger for months to years and block sunlight. The scientists used a new climate model from the National Center for Atmospheric Research with higher resolution and improved simulations compared with a NASA model used by a Robock-led team 12 years ago.

The new model represents the Earth at many more locations and includes simulations of the growth of the smoke particles and ozone destruction from the heating of the atmosphere. Still, the climate response to a nuclear war from the new model was nearly identical to that from the NASA model.

“This means that we have much more confidence in the climate response to a large-scale nuclear war,” Coupe said. “There really would be a nuclear winter with catastrophic consequences.”

In both the new and old models, a nuclear winter occurs as soot (black carbon) in the upper atmosphere blocks sunlight and causes global average surface temperatures to plummet by more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because a major nuclear war could erupt by accident or as a result of hacking, computer failure or an unstable world leader, the only safe action that the world can take is to eliminate nuclear weapons, said Robock, who works in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and University of Colorado, Boulder, contributed to the study.

BRIDGEWATER, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have acquried right-handed Taylor Wright in a trade with the Evansville Otters (Frontier League) for future considerations. He is active for tonight’s game against the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Wright enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The 6’5” righty spent his first professional season this year with the ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have acquried right-handed Taylor Wright in a trade with the ...

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - South Brunswick Girl Scouts will be hosting an event to collect presents for children who are hospitalized on their birthdays at the East Brunswick Service Center on Church Lane on September 15th. Guests will be asked to bring donations such as toys, games and clothes for birthday bags that will be delivered to children at Robert Wood Johnson, St. Peter's, Princeton and ...

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - South Brunswick Girl Scouts will be hosting an event to collect presents for ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - East Brunswick born and raised singer-songwriter, Kathleen Elle, is a semi-finalist in the Opening Act Competition to be the opener of the We Can Survive Concert at the Hollywood Bowl October 19th. This concert is headlined by Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and others! Kathleen gained recognition in the past from Seventeen Magazine, Hollister, Campus ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - East Brunswick born and raised singer-songwriter, Kathleen Elle, is a ...

The Patriots jumped put to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Olmo Rosario started the scoring with an RBI single, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice by Jimmy Paredes. Edwin Espinal then launched a two-run home run (7) to left field to ...

ASBURY PARK, NJ -- Besides sand, surf and Springsteen, Asbury Park has been known in recent years as a hub for the New Jersey LGBTQ community. HomeGrown Host Stephanie Willoughby spoke with Comedian & Activist Jess Alaimo about the LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere of Asbury Park. Alaimo grew up in Asbury Park, where she still lives, and has family roots here. She founded the Asbury Park Young ...

ASBURY PARK, NJ -- Besides sand, surf and Springsteen, Asbury Park has been known in recent years ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ - C. Vivian Stringer walked into her new digs and cast her eyes toward the rafters.

When the Rutgers women's basketball coach called the new RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center "a game-changer," her words echoed throughout the cavernous practice facility sprawled out in front of her.

Stringer was joined by Rutgers President Robert Barchi, Chancellor Christopher ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ - C. Vivian Stringer walked into her new digs and cast her eyes toward the ...